Botanical identity
This taxon is documented in the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species with a reported medicinal use. The record establishes a use report and botanical index entry, not clinical effectiveness or individual safety.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderCucurbitales
FamilyCucurbitaceae
GenusLuffa
Scientific name with authorshipLuffa aegyptiaca Mill.
Indexed scientific synonyms
Bryonia cheirophylla Wall.Cucumis acutangulus Wall.Cucumis pentandrus Roxb.Cucumis pentandrus Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.Cucurbita luffaLuffa acutangula var. subangulata (Miq.) Cogn.Luffa aegyptiaca f. sylvestris (Miq.) W.J.de Wilde & DuyfjesLuffa aegyptiaca var. leiocarpa (Naudin) Heiser & E.E.Schill.Luffa aegyptiaca var. peramara F.M.BaileyLuffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roem.Luffa cylindrica var. insularum (A.Gray) Cogn.Luffa cylindrica var. leiocarpa NaudinLuffa cylindrica var. minima NaudinLuffa cylindrica var. multiflora (Spreng.) DominLuffa cylindrica var. triangularis Cogn.Luffa fricatoria Sessé & Moc.Luffa insularum A.GrayLuffa leiocarpa (Naudin) F.Muell.Luffa leucosperma M.Roem.Luffa parvula Buch.-Ham.Luffa parvula Buch.-Ham. ex G.DonLuffa pentandra Roxb.Luffa petola Ser.Luffa subangulata Miq.Luffa sylvestris Miq.Melothria touchanensis H.Lév.Momordica carinata Vell.Momordica cylindrica L.Momordica luffa L.Momordica operculata BlancoMomordica reticulata Salisb.Poppya fabiana K.KochTuria cordata Forssk.Turia cordata Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel.Turia cylindrica Forssk.Turia cylindrica Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel.Turia sativa Forssk.
Documented use categories
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Evidence boundary
A taxonomic use record is a discovery and indexing signal. Clinical evidence must be assessed separately for the exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.
Safety boundary
Correct identification is essential. Toxicity, contraindications, interactions and safe preparation cannot be inferred from a documented-use record.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier293060-1
Use codesHF ME
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Medicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Useful Plants of New Guinea
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.